'Machete' star Trejo leads Bringin' in the Roar' parade

An estimated couple thousand bikes left the Presque Isle Downs & Casino parking lots at 6 p.m. for an hour-long ride that ended at Perry Square in downtown Erie.

Ron Leonardi @ETNLeonardi

Danny Trejo called his experience "overwhelming.''

The 73-year-old movie and television actor, who starred in roles including "From Dusk Till Dawn and "Machete,'' served as grand marshal for Thursday's Roar on the Shore motorcycle rally's Bringin' in the Roar Parade.

An estimated couple thousand bikes left the Presque Isle Downs & Casino parking lots at 6 p.m. for an hour-long ride that ended at Perry Square in downtown Erie.

All along the route, Trejo was greeted by thousands of spectators who waved small American flags, children who wanted to have their photos taken with him, and many others who waved cardboard machetes.

"It makes you really feel at home,'' Trejo said. "Everybody is really friendly. I saw signs that said, "Trejo,'' and that kind of blew my mind. There were a whole bunch of people who had machetes and were waving them. They weren't real machetes, they were made out of cardboard, but it was just an awesome feeling that everybody has seen that movie and everybody loves it. It kind of made me feel at home. Thank you, Erie.''

From the casino, the parade headed south on Route 97, west on West Townhall Road, south on Shunpike Road, west on Lee Road, north on Old French Road, north on Route 505 (Perry Highway) to 26th Street, and north on State Street to Perry Square.

When the parade entourage stopped at the halfway point along the route, Trejo was swarmed by children wanting to shake his hand and have a photo opportunity.

"It was really a family atmosphere,'' Trejo said. "I took pictures with more kids than I've ever seen in my life. They were all new 'Spy Kids.' I love it when moms and dads know what their kids are doing. All of them were with their kids. That's the way you keep kids out of trouble. I love seeing the kids and all the families. There's no greater joy than having your family with you. I have three kids and I love to have them with me. One of my sayings is I would rather shoot for the moon and miss than aim for the gutter and make it.''

Thursday's ride was the feature attraction of the second day of the five-day Roar on the Shore rally, which runs through Sunday. Roar on the Shore organizers estimate as many as 20,000 spectators lined Thursday's parade route.

"This ride was overwhelming,'' Trejo said. "I heard about this rally in different events I have done, but I wasn't expecting anything like this. I've never been to Erie, and the only thing I ever remembered about Erie was in grammar school — '15 Miles on the Erie Canal.' ''

Trejo flew to Erie from Los Angeles on Wednesday and appeared at Wednesday night's Roar on the Shore headline concert featuring Jackyl.

Roar on the Shore officials took Trejo to breakfast Thursday morning at Lorie's Wildridge Restaurant in Millcreek Township. Trejo was then taken for a ride around Presque Isle State Park. When Trejo saw Sara's restaurant, he said he had to stop.

"I've been all over the world and I have to say this is one of the greenest spots I've ever seen and it's about one of the friendliest,'' Trejo said. "Don't tell anybody or they'll all want to move here and then it will be like Los Angeles.''

After leading the biker parade into Perry Square, Trejo held an autograph session at the Off-Road Express vendor tent at Perry Square.

Roar organizers did not have an official Bringin' in the Roar motorcycle count Thursday night.

The first bikers began staging in the casino parking lots by late Thursday morning. Bikers were entertained by live music throughout the afternoon.

Biker Ron Braden, 71, who resembles Santa Claus, showed up in the casino parking lot early Thursday afternoon dressed in a Santa hat and shirt. He's ridden in all 11 Bringin' in the Roar parades.

"The biker camaraderie and being with everybody is what it is all about,'' Braden said. "What they're giving the charity money to (the Mercy Center for Women) is fantastic.''

Shortly before 6 p.m., all of the bikes revved their engines in unison. Braden said it was the ultimate adrenaline rush.

"I got goose bumps on top of my goose bumps,'' he said. "When we fire them up and everybody is revving them up, it's a thrill.''

Throughout the route, Braden said he never tires of the support he sees from spectators.

"I can't believe how many people come out for the parade,'' Braden said. "They're with their grills and tents, and it's just a great time. It's better than a Fourth of July parade — it's all motorcycles.''

Braden said he was hoping to meet Trejo at some point after the parade ended.

"I've seen him in a lot of different movies. He's a bad dude,'' Braden said with a laugh.

Tracy Edwards, 58, of North East Township, participated in his first Bringin' in the Roar ride.

"I heard this is a good time and I thought this will be a good experience,'' Edwards said before the ride departed. "It's definitely something new.''

Edwards said he was looking forward as much to walking around and looking at all the cool bikes lined up in the parking lots as the ride, which he participated in with a handful of friends.

One of Braden's favorite ride route venues is along Glenwood Park Avenue near the Erie Zoo, where legions of spectators view the bike parade.

"That's where everybody hangs out,'' Braden said. "Kids are waving, we're waving, blowing our horns, revving our engines and just having a grand old time, and I hope they all appreciate it.''

The parade is led by a police escort as it heads north on State Street to finish at Perry Square.

"When you see all the people on each side of State Street, they're all waving and they want to come out onto the road and give you a high five,'' Braden said. "It's just an adrenaline rush. It's fantastic. Every year, it keeps getting bigger with more spectators, and we have a great time. That's what it's all about.''